Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-20
mAskED DuxSEH PARrIEs.
Novel Devices By whieh social E1JSJ.
ment 10 Aeeentuated

Two club men, saws the Brooklyn
Eagle, coming down the earpeted, can
vas screened exit from a swell ball,
were heard 70 say to each other, with
an air OF infinite fatigue and disgust,
that Really. don't you know, these
New York balls had but two ingredi-
ents, awning and yawning," and than
were driven away in a condition Of
complete mental and physical collapse.
Ii is this sort OF spirit that makes en-
pertaining in New York such hard
work. A lady who gives luncheons
and dinners, balls and receptions, finds
the financial expense, which is heavy
enough. heaven knows, the smallest
part OF the drain upon her. The bills
come in after Il is all over and she has
time to rejoice that IL is done and be
grateful that it is no worse; but before
she liquidates her social debts in cham
payne she must lie awake nights rack
ing her brain for something new and
fanciful, for New Workers are insatia-
bic. lis not enough for her to feed
her dinner creditors and all her mob
OF AcquaintanceS, but she must strike
upon some device 20 stimulate their
faded fancies, abe must give them
something to talk about. One Of the
newest devices is late importation
from France, but presented here, like
TRANSACTIONS from Partisan literature,
expurgated and softsned to suit Amer
lean tastes In Paris masked dinner
parties are only attended by married
women, and even those from the ranks
OF the trisky maidens. and the more
careful wives consider them slightly
too risaue in tone 10 be INDUCED. But
Americans are under the necessity OF
fitting their literature and their social
relaxations 20 the demands OF - the
Young person. who. when all is done
and said, Is still queen regnant IN our
society world Therefore. when the
exiRencieS Of the demand for some aew
thing drive hApless hOstessss TO adopt
French ideas. they must 80 rearrange
them, while preserving their plquancy,
as 10 make them innocent and reason
ably proper. Still. with all this. very
strict chaperons are disposed 10 look
askAnce upon masked dinners. Sew
eral Of them have been given, but the
PARTICIPANTS have kept 50 quiet about
them that they have not vet made their
wav into the papers. The element OF
fascination in these dinners Is. Of
course, As in all masked entertain
mentx. the amusing surprises when
the women unmaSk Just As they rise
10 leave the men 10 their wine. II was
because one OF these little entertain
msnts was sounique and amusing that
the dinners got talked about, for the
marty could not iOrbear telling lt alter
ward. At these dinners the guests are
known only 20 the hostess, AZ least the
women are. because the men are not
in mask. No one but she knows who
is 20 come. either, because with the IN
yitationS goes a plea for absolute Sc
crecy. At a recent one young man.
A husband 81 some three years stand
ing, came into the drawlng-roOm about
: o'clock IN End i've women, all IN
mask and only 10 be distinguished by
a little ivory number hung by . blue
ribbon 10 the shoulder-siFaP Of their
low necked gowns He had made
some vague excuse 10 his vie, who
had asked him a. stay AZ home that
evening. about having business down
town. and had dressed AZ the etue,
The men had numbers % match thoss
az the women o. choose from az ran
dom. and "a his lot fell the number
four. whose companion hung 20 the
shoulder Of = tall and splendid erea-
ture. whose arms and shoulders Eere
a. white as the purcst blonde, though
whst could be seen Of her hair vas
perfr.-tiv black. Before nsh Vas re
moved he confidei to his partner that
NATL that evening he had preferred
blon3es. bat from that hour his ale
.,3sn,,e waS transferred to their dark
haired sisters-no; pausing toeonSsder
bsse mani that bis Nife's ewes were
hlne ana her hair ike ia1. HIS con-
psnion proved 20 be decidealy nirta-
p~us IN disposition, though she sp-
parrntlv had never seen him before
Fuassins wiis u the mark NhensffT
* Assafapl say aeaisesafes - y ~